Appliance for the switching of radiofrequency signals

Abstract

The appliance for the switching of radiofrequency signals comprises a first port and a second port connectable along a transmission/receiving line of a radiofrequency communication system, a third port connectable to a monitoring appliance of radiofrequency signals and at least a switching circuit which is able to switch between: a monitoring configuration, wherein the first port and the second port are connected together for the transmission/receiving of signals along the transmission/receiving line and wherein the signals are in part taken and sent to the third port for the analysis by means of the monitoring appliance; a test configuration, wherein the third port and the second port are connected together for sending at least a predefined test signal from the monitoring appliance to the transmission/receiving line.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An appliance for the switching of radiofrequency signals, comprising:
 at least a first port and a second port connectable along a transmission/receiving line of a radiofrequency communication system; 
 at least a third port connectable to a monitoring appliance of radiofrequency signals; 
 at least a switching circuit configured to switch between:
 a monitoring configuration, wherein said first port and said second port are connected together for the transmission/receiving of signals along said transmission/receiving line and wherein said signals are in part taken and sent to said third port for analysis by said monitoring appliance; and 
 a test configuration, wherein said third port and said second port are connected together for sending at least a predefined test signal from said monitoring appliance to said transmission/receiving line; 
 
 at least a piloting circuit connected to said third port, operatively connected to said switching circuit and able to pilot said switching circuit between said monitoring configuration and said test configuration depending on the value of at least a direct current present on said third port; and 
 at least a signal coupling device placed between said first port and said second port and connected to said third port, said signal coupling device being able to take in part said signals and to send them to said third port for the analysis by means of said monitoring appliance, 
 wherein said switching circuit comprises at least a first switching device connected to said third port, said first switching device being connected to said coupling device in said monitoring configuration and to said second port in said test configuration, 
 wherein said switching circuit comprises at least a second switching device connected to said second port, said second switching device being connected to said first port in said monitoring configuration and to said third port in said test configuration, and 
 wherein said switching circuit comprises at least a third switching device placed between said first port and said second switching device, said third switching device being connected to said second switching device in said monitoring configuration and to a load resistor in said test configuration. 
 
     
     
       2. An appliance for the switching of radiofrequency signals, comprising:
 at least a first port and a second port connectable along a transmission/receiving line of a radiofrequency communication system; 
 at least a third port connectable to a monitoring appliance of radiofrequency signals; 
 at least a switching circuit configured to switch between:
 a monitoring configuration, wherein said first port and said second port are connected together for the transmission/receiving of signals along said transmission/receiving line and wherein said signals are in part taken and sent to said third port for analysis by said monitoring appliance; and 
 a test configuration, wherein said third port and said second port are connected together for sending at least a predefined test signal from said monitoring appliance to said transmission/receiving line; and 
 
 at least a first signal coupling device and at least a second signal coupling device arranged in series together, placed between said first port and said second port and connected to said third port, wherein said first coupling device is able to take in part said signals and send said signals to said third port for the analysis by said monitoring appliance, and wherein said second coupling device allows passage of said signals from the first port to the second port or sending of said test signal coming from the third port to said second port, 
 wherein said switching circuit comprises at least a first switching device connected to said third port, said first switching device being connected to said first coupling device in said monitoring configuration and to said second coupling device in said test configuration, 
 wherein said switching circuit comprises at least a second switching device connected to said first coupling device, said second switching device being connected to said third port in said monitoring configuration and to a load resistor in said test configuration, and 
 wherein said switching circuit comprises at least a third switching device connected to said second coupling device, said third switching device being connected to a load resistor in said monitoring configuration and to said third port in said test configuration. 
 
     
     
       3. The appliance according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one between said first switching device, said second switching device and said third switching device comprises at least a RF switch. 
     
     
       4. The appliance according to  claim 3 , wherein said piloting circuit comprises at least a voltage comparator with an input connected to said third port and at least an output connected to said at least one RF switch, said voltage comparator being able to compare said voltage value measured on the third port with at least a predefined threshold value. 
     
     
       5. The appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one between said first switching device, said second switching device and said third switching device comprises at least a relay. 
     
     
       6. The appliance according to  claim 5 , wherein said piloting circuit comprises at least a winding of said at least one relay connected to said third port. 
     
     
       7. The appliance according to  claim 1 , comprising at least a direct current generator able to generate at least one direct voltage on said third port. 
     
     
       8. The appliance according to  claim 7 , wherein said generator has a first output able to supply a first predefined direct voltage and a second output able to supply a second predefined direct voltage and by the fact that it comprises at least a switch able to connect alternatively to said third port said first output or said second output, to bring on said third port the first predefined direct voltage or the second predefined direct voltage. 
     
     
       9. The appliance according to  claim 1 , comprising a switch able to connect alternatively to said third port an output port of said monitoring unit, used for the injection of said test signal, or an input port of said monitoring unit, used for receiving the radiofrequency signals to analyze.